Friday Reminiscing PWYC

[Twins' Mom]

Today I'm thinking of all the life cycle events we've shared together over the years. Births, graduations, a b'nai mitzvah (in my case), moves, retirements, medical issues, and death. Since we celebrate another tomorrow with the Harriet and HRH family, today might be a good day to reminisce together as cyber aunties!

[Twins' Mom]

I think Harriet's dd was barely out of toddler-hood when I came to this group. Harriet was still working/writing part-time for a local newspaper perhaps?

My kids were maybe first grade because that was when I began trying to get my own act together!

Along the way we have lost Dee and Indiana, our born-organized, and Harmony. Others: RR's friend whose name I can't remember?

More to come....I need to get busy for dcleeaning lady. Dh did some putting away last night, but I need to do more. I need to try to get back into routines after a very long hiatus.

[Lady Maverick]

Twins - What a great idea for reminiscing. I'll try to share some memories later today.

I am low on focus today. I have plenty of energy but need a direction, a decision, a timeline.....SOMETHING.
I will start with doing the 4 D's and see where that takes me.
Dishes
Duds
Dinner
Desk

[Nancy]

Had my window open a bit & birds woke me way early.
Watered front grass.
Got the towels from dog's bath in the wash & just put em in the dryer.
qt. x
Had bfast

got dressed.
dishes are current
did some counter spiff & sinks are clean.
walked

Waving!

[CathyS]

Hi!

I was woken early by the youngest cat AKA the alarm clock! Meow! Meow!! M E O W !!! over and over and over again until one of us gets up and lets her outside.

I ended up going back to bed and waking up around 10 ish! Dh went outside and there were 2 deceased baby animals under our bedroom window. She (Baby Cat) must have thought her can openers needed to be fed.

Dh has request sausages, onions and peppers and potatoes for supper.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm having another slow day.

Part of me is justifying it as a mental health day and enjoying these wonderful surroundings (for which I've paid a lot of money so even my financial brain says I should just sit and listen to the birds.)

On the other hand, my more practical side is pointing out that I had promised I'd take these larger blocks of time to 1. catch up on the little things I've let slide before they become big things and 2. take better care of my body. Sitting around doing nothing is not working towards either goal.

Rains are coming very soon so I will endeavor to walk for 15 minutes outside. At least I'm dressed now, which I wasn't an hour ago.

[Twins' Mom]

Dcleaning lady is done with her magic here. I've ordered groceries via Instacart so I'm not having to go out today at all. And I've processed a few emails and accumulated paper. Sent 2023 expenses to the HOA social committee chair, you would think she's running a business the way she wants to reconcile her records against mine. And paid an HOA bill online. edit, and now a follow up email to ask about the HOA Financial statements to put on the website.

Just doing miscellaneous things that need doing. I am going to have some lunch and perhaps nap, or go upstairs. It's so nice to be home.

Remembering LadyM and LordM when they cared for a newborn, now ds. And the mom and pop business. What changes their lives have gone through to bring them to second time around child raising!

Mystery represented us at Dee's dd's funeral and now Dee is gone too.

[Ramblinrose]

Twins…you’re thinking of Norm :

Harriet..when my sons father and I got married we were in the Navy living on $330 a month. We had t get married at the courthouse because we had no money and couldn’t afford the justice of the peace

Problem was my sons father was in school till 5 and they wouldn’t let him off so we could get married. However he convinced someone to let him off at 4. We drove as fast as we could to downtown Orlando and ran up to the courthouse like your dd. However when we handed the clerk our blood test we were told my dxh’s was o the wrong form and couldn’t be accept.

The clerk told us the courthouse closed at 5 but if my dxh could get the correct form we could be married. He flue out of the courthouse leaving me behind with the clerk. Five o’clock came and the clerks door locked with us in it. The clerk looked at me and told me to go stand by the window cause I was pacing so much.

A few minutes later my dxh pulled into the parking lot but didn’t have the correct change for the meter. He stoped a women and asked if she had a dime for his quarter. She handed him her money and he ran up to the locked courthouse. The clerk opened the door and we were finally married

When the ceremony was over we asked how much we owed the clerk and was told whatever we had. My dxh handed him a 10 bill which was all we had. The clerk took his money, open up the cash register and hand us a five dollar bill saying… let me be the first to hand you a wedding present :

Turns out my d h couldn’t find a doctor to sign the correct blood test form so a medic forged it.. we went to Stake and shake with our five dollar bill and had our wedding dinner. We didn’t have any witnesses at our ceremony just us the the clerk and I have often wondered if we were officially married

I have been to class, my coffee gathering and have just finished my lunch. Then I’m off to run some errands

I was just thinking about how long we have all been together and all the different evens we have shared. Amazing as most of us have never personally met each other. We sure are a lucky bunch!!!

[Harriet]

Yes, the recent loss of Norma. Longer reminiscing brings Emptynester and Indiana to mind. SuzLew from California, although I was mistaken when I thought she had been a part of these particular boards. Also Mamapiano if we go back to the previous board.

I know lots of stuff thanks to expertise and life experiences chatted about here. Like knowing that a b'nai mitzvah is for a boy and a girl to look forward to, such as Twins' twins did.

I was reading the SHE site, just post-Columbian, while dd was 3, joined in when she was turning 4, I think, but it may have been earlier. I was under contract to our regional newspaper with a twice-weekly column about local news.

Sitting here with a wet head after visiting my colorist. Smoothie just finished for lunch. That will probably be all I'll eat until the rehearsal dinner this evening.

HRH had the same bad night's sleep I had and is specifically napping now, to be awakened at 3. I can't get him to try on his wedding clothes again - he's tried on everything once and that's all he's doing. He says he can adjust his Cinch by himself tomorrow (which he absolutely cannot do). Picking battles today, though. In theory, this evening should be just a cheerful get-together with 14-15 people (or are there more spouses?) who are all in varying stages of frazz. I will spend the evening trying to be as agreeable as I possibly can with the couple and the coordinator. No new opinions.

I think I'll take a mucinex again before the rehearsal.

Ramblin', what a great story! That Medic did the saintly act of a very, very little-white-lie.

Yes, Mystery's representation when Shelley passed away was something that passed by my reminiscing, too.

We remain a group whose most-remembered event may still have to do with an exploding watermelon.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

No new opinions.

This is why so many of us think of you as our wise one!

Last night, I watched a Property Brothers home reno show that got me thinking about the porch here.

They redid what appeared to be an outer screened front porch, putting out a couple of chairs and table with flowers. That led to an enclosed entry way 'room' which contained the proper front door to the home. That second room was turned into a full sitting area for 4 - 6 people, basically adding another room to the small house. Previously both the porch and the entry way room were used to pile up things the family with 3 little ones would need on their way outside. So it was very cluttered with stuff as well as jackets and shoes taking away from 'curb appeal' (since they were looking to sell and move up to a larger home.)

The redone areas were lovely but still begged the question, where would coats and shoes go? I hate to be practical but I live in a country where the weather can change on a dime.

Which is exactly why I didn't get much of a walk in. Made it just to the edge of the property when the rain started so walked backed as quickly as I could. Then spent time tidying and rearranging the front porch here. It is 21' x 7.5' and blessedly, the door from outside and the door into the cottage are pretty close to each other. Leaving at least 14' x 7.5 uninterrupted by traffic floor. It used to be just a screen porch but now it is has windows that can be folded into themselves so either fully open, part open, or closed up (although there is a little section by the door outside that is only screened.) There are 5 hooks for coats next to that airy spot, and inside there is an 18" open rod to hang coats from. Boots, etc. are left out on the porch (or in one's room.)

There's a lovely seating are at the far end, in front of our bedroom picture window, effectively a 'den' with a 2 person table to eat at, 3 chairs and a little love seat. That's where I have my daily tea and often read or work on my computer.

In the 3 trips here, we've cluttered up the area leading to that sitting area with stuff taking away from the impact of the lovely sitting area.

So I tidied up, moving some things to the shed to lessen their impact. The area between the doors will always be a bit cluttered looking but I didn't have to overwhelm that area. Things are a safe in the shed as the porch because neither have locks on them. In fact, the shed is more water resistant (if it rains while the porch windows are open.)

All the time I was doing that the rain showers came and went. Under sun, I carried things into the shed and then spent some time tidying that while the rain poured down. Once it stopped I went back to work. I took a load to the car and intended to go back on a walk but made it just 30 feet before realizing it wasn't rain blowing off leaves I was hearing but that another cell was moving through.

So I came home and had my breakfast at 2 (I had been snacking earlier so I wasn't fasting until then.)

I'm done breakfast so time to either go for a walk (although the sun that was out when I started this post is now gone so I suspect another rain shower is on its way) or start in on paperwork or housework. I will be giving this place a house blessing before I leave. I always clean the bathroom and the kitchen counters before leaving but the floor hasn't been washed yet, I've never dusted, and I've only vacuumed once (although I have used my carpet sweeper.) I'm starting to notice a lot of dust so need to take care of that this trip. I dusted the porch furniture while I was working on that and swept that carpet.

Wait! Sunlight! Time to try and get past the end of the driveway.